Gender identity conversation toolkit

In my efforts to be gender-affirming and identity-affirming, which can foster psychological safety, I often begin the session by sharing my pronouns. I also intentionally ask the person I am holding space for if they use pronouns that they would like me to be aware of and honor during our time together. I don’t ask, “What are your pronouns?” because I’ve learned that not everyone chooses to use pronouns as another imposed label, and I respect that. I also avoid saying, “What are your preferred pronouns?” because I’ve learned that for some people who are gender-minoritized and frequently misgendered, pronouns are not a preference, but rather an integral part of who they are. I respect this nuance. When someone says, “I use we and thay,” I understand this as a way of distancing themselves from the “he” in “she/they,” just as there is male in female. This response sparks curiosity in me, without ridiculing or trivializing their way of self-identifying. I have also met people who use all pronouns as a way of rejecting the gender binary, and I respect that too. If I don’t fully understand something, I ask questions so that I can avoid making the wrong assumptions or misaddressing them. We don’t have to wait for #PrideMonth to humanize and normalize conversations about psychological safety. We cannot authentically cultivate safe therapeutic alliances if we do not respect people’s self-determination to identify in ways that are meaningful and empowering to them. It doesn’t always have to make sense to us as service providers and we don’t have to demonize what we don’t fully understand. Our job is to hold space and bear witness, not to center ourselves or trivialize others’ identities. What are your thoughts about pronouns? How do you approach the topic? P/S: Please only engage if you can dialogue with non-judgmental compassion, respect, humility, and conscious curiosity. My space has zero tolerance for willful ignorance and bigotry, and it’s also not a space for deflection and projection. In Communal solidarity, Shayla S. Dube, MSW, RCSW-S Wellness Empowered Counselling & Consulting Inc

I think I'm going to start posting this daily. I’ve updated my comprehensive resource guide with critical new information to help transgender people, families, and allies respond to harmful misconceptions and navigate today’s challenges. The latest updates include: 💫Responses to Arguments About Trans Rights: 🔸Why is everyone “suddenly” trans? 🔸Puberty blockers and gender-affirming care explained. 🔸Restroom access myths debunked. 💫Empathy-Driven Analogies: 🔸Designed to help people truly understand what it’s like to walk in our shoes. 🔸Relatable for conversations with people willing to listen and learn. While much of this information is typically part of my paid speaking engagements and training sessions, we’re living in an incredibly dangerous time for the transgender community. We need help. We need allies. We need understanding. 💫Spotlight on the Who’s Making News Project: This initiative tracks data on child sexual assault offenders and debunks harmful narratives. Key findings show the majority of offenders are individuals in trusted positions (e.g., religious leaders, educators)—not transgender people or drag performers. While much of this information is typically shared (in a different format) in my paid speaking engagements and training sessions, I wanted to create something simple to serve as an ongoing resource. Please: 1️⃣Review the document. 2️⃣Learn from it. 3️⃣Use it and share it widely - at work, at school, with your family and friends. Send it via email, share it on all of your social media platforms, print it and put it on desks or send it via snail mail. Access the updated resource in PDF and PPT versions. See links below. PDF: https://lnkd.in/e5eSDheC PPT: https://lnkd.in/eMb-j4re The free website is also published. I plan to upgrade to a paid website if I feel it's being used and is providing value to others. Our community is under attack, but together, we can fight back with truth, empathy, and action. As mentioned, while much of this information is typically part of my paid speaking engagements and training sessions, we’re living in an incredibly dangerous time for the transgender community. We need help. We need allies. We need understanding.

🏳️⚧️ As a transgender inclusion specialist and author, I'm excited to share 5 essential tips for creating a more inclusive workplace for transgender employees! 1. 📚 Educate Your Team Start with basic transgender terminology and concepts. Understanding is the foundation of respect. Remember, it's not your trans colleagues' job to educate everyone! 2. 🎯 Update Your Policies Ensure your workplace policies explicitly protect gender identity and expression. This includes clear guidelines on transitioning at work, bathroom access, and dress codes. 3. 📝 Normalize Pronouns Make sharing pronouns voluntary but normalized in email signatures, meetings, and name tags. This creates a more welcoming environment for everyone. 4. 🤝 Foster Inclusive Communication Use gender-neutral language in company communications and train teams on respectful interactions. Small changes make a big impact! 5. ⚡ Lead by Example Leadership must actively demonstrate commitment to trans inclusion through actions, not just words. Want to dive deeper into creating truly inclusive workplaces? Check out my book "Transgender Inclusion: All the Things You Want to Ask Your Transgender Coworker But Shouldn't" here: https://lnkd.in/ge8yYzDn #TransInclusion #WorkplaceEquity #DEI #Leadership #LGBTQ #ProfessionalDevelopment #HR What challenges have you faced in implementing inclusive practices at your workplace? Let's discuss! 🤔